AZUSA, Calif. – The Western Oregon baseball team had two early leads evaporate in falling shot to Azusa Pacific on Saturday afternoon, 7-6, in the non-conference series finale at the Cougar Baseball Complex.
 
Michael Fairchild, the sixth pitcher of the day for APU, picked up the win in relief to improve to 1-0 for the Cougars. Junior Elias Bedolla dropped to 0-1 after suffering the loss, allowing the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly ball with one out.
 
Western Oregon opened with a run in the second inning. Joey Crunkilton led off with a double, scoring later in the inning after a sac fly to right field by Marcus Madden. The lead increased to 3-0 after a Kyle Vanderkin RBI double and run-scoring bunt single from Madden.
 
WOU starting pitcher Gary Steindorf held the Cougars scoreless over his first three frames, but surrendered three unearned runs in the bottom of the fourth. Steindorf was not involved in the final decision after five frames of three hits and six strikeouts.
 
The Woilves retook the lead, 5-3, in their half of the fifth inning when Cody Sullivan came through with a clutch two-run double to center field.
 
Azusa Pacific closed within one after Pablo O'Connor blasted a solo home run to right field in the sixth off WOU reliever Koty Fallon and retook the lead with another homer, a two-run blast, in the seventh.
 
Western Oregon kept fighting and got themselves back even with a run in the top of the eighth. After Crunkilton led off with a single and moved to second on a Sullivan sacrifice bunt, Nathan Etheridge plated Crunkilton with a RBI single to center. The potential go-ahead runner was stranded at second base.
 
The Cougars pushed across the go-ahead run with similar beginnings. O'Connor singled and advanced on a bunt. A passed ball with two outs put O'Connor on third base, in perfect position to tag up on a fly ball from Cam Bennett. Fairchild retired the side in order to clinch the win for APU.
 
Etheridge led the Western Oregon offense with three hits while Sullivan and Madden were each 2-for-3 with two RBI each. Brock Pradere also had two hits for the Wolves.
 
Western Oregon plays a single game Sunday at Cal State Dominguez Hills in Carson to close out the opening California road trip. First pitch against the Toros (3-0) is set for 11 a.m.